Nashville's first snow of the season may not amount to much but expect wintry rain/snow mix Friday
Nashville and the surrounding Middle Tennessee region is on track to see its first winter weather mix of rain and snow this season, just don't expect it to stick.
Starting Thursday night and continuing through Saturday, the Middle Tennessee area will see a mix of light rain and snow with very low chances of it to accumulate, except for the Cumberland Plateau, according to the National Weather Service in Nashville.
An upper level low pressure system will bring scattered showers and cold air late Thursday night prompting a snow/rain event amid temperatures in the low 30s, the NWS Nashville office says.
The forecast calls for 1/4 inch to 1 inch over the Cumberland Plateau, up to a dusting possible elsewhere. The best chance for snow showers will be Friday morning.
We are still on track to see a mix of light rain/snow starting tonight & continuing Friday before ending early Saturday. Most of the midstate has very low chances to see any snow accumulate (left graphic) but the Plateau has much higher chances to get ~1" of snow (right graphic) pic.twitter.com/i0XfGAktJs
— NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) December 28, 2023
"The overall thinking for tomorrow remains unchanged with a mix of rain and snow showers," The NWS forecast discussion stated Thursday morning. Precipitation could change back and forth between rain and snow, depending on intensity.
"Not much in the way of accumulations are expected during the day on Friday."
The best chance for accumulation will be after dark Friday as temperatures drop in the Cumberland Plateau. A few snow showers could continue into Saturday morning on the plateau, otherwise, clouds will clear out through the day Saturday and temperatures west of the plateau will climb into the mid to upper 40s, NWS says.
How much snow could Middle Tennessee get?
Not much outside of the Cumberland Plateau.
NWS says models continue to focus on the plateau for any chance of snow accumulation, with ensembles showing a high probability (70% and higher) of anywhere from a dusting to more than an inch along the plateau.
Light snow will continue Friday night, Thursday afternoon's NWS forecast discussion says this will be the best chance at some accumulating snow.
"We could see up to an inch across our Plateau, with generally a dusting elsewhere. Low temperatures by morning will be in the lower to mid 30s," the forecast discussion states.
Light snow showers could continue Saturday morning along the plateau before precipitation moves out and leaves clear skies by Saturday night.
Nashville 3-Day weather forecast
Thursday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers between midnight and 5 a.m., followed by a chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Friday: A chance of snow showers before 9 a.m. followed by rain and snow through noon. Rain showers likely after noon. Mostly cloudy with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Chance of rain and snow showers continue before midnight. Low around 34.
Saturday: Partly Sunny with a high near 47. Evening will be mostly clear with a low around 31.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville weather: Wintry mix of rain and snow expected Friday
